Chair.



M. A. FERGUSON.

CHAIR.

V APPLICATlON FILED APR- 13, 1914. 1 17 4, Patented Jan.11,1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

A TTORNEVS COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH CD.,\VASIHNGTDN, U c.

M. A. FERGUSON.

GHAIR.

APPLICATION min APR.13, 1914.

I mana e Patented J an. 11, 1916.

ZSHEETS-SHEET 2.

INVENTOR A TTOR/VEYS COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH cm. WASHINGTON, D. c

s'rar MARIE A. FERGUSON, OF NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT.

GI-IAIIR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented J an. f1, 1916.

Applicatien filed April 13, 1914. Serial No. 831,409.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JNIARIEVA. FERGUSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at New Haven, county of New Haven, and State of Connecticun have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Chairs, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates in general to chairs and particularly relates to such a device for supporting a person in 'a sitting posture especially applicable for use where the person must remain in this position over a long period of time; v

Among the objects of the invention are to provide a means *feiasnptortiag a person in a sitting position with the least possible fatigue, and to provide ineans for minimizing the strains as the body incidental to maint'aining a sitting posture; V

Otherbbjects of the invention are to pro"- vi'de a device of this character, the several parts of which may be readily adjustedto suit the requirements of the user and which may be quickly deiiiounted to facilitate the removal of the person therefroiir.

Various other, objects-and advantages of the invention will be in par-t obvious from an inspection of the accompany-ingdrawings and in part will be morefnlly set forth in the following particulardescription of one form of mechanism embodying the invention, "and the invention also sensing in certain new and novel features of construction and combination of parts hereinafter set forth and claimed.

Referring to the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is a side elevation of a preferred embodiment of my invention, certain parts being shown in section. Fig. 2 i a front elevation of the device shown in Fig. 1, and Fig. 3 is a plan view looking down upon the device illustrated in Fig. 1.

In the drawings there is illustrated a supporting frame 1 including spaced apart standards 2 braced in position by means of struts 3 one of which may constitute a head and shoulder rest l at the upper portion of the standards. This frame also includes a chair base 5 fixed to the front of the standards as by means of the straps 6 and sup ports a foot rest 7 on the side thereof opposite the standards. A seat 8 is adjustably mounted on the chair base 5 by any suitable means such as the lock screw connection 9 usual with oflice chairs of the swivel type.

This seat is preferably made of some mate rial which will hold its form, such as wood carved to lit the particular person for whom the device is intended, but it may be roughly shaped to form and have a cushion which can be gradually pressed into shape during use. A back 10 is carried by the seat 8 and comprises two members adjustable relative to each other and to the seat. These members are of a configuration to fit the persons loins on opposite sides of the spinal column. A table 11 is adapted to be fixed in position in front of the seat and comprises one or more legs 12 adjustable in length and atop 13, the rear edge of which has a recessed portron 14: adapted to fit about the person occupylng the chair. The top 13 is braced from the standards 2 by means of straps 15 which are adjustably fastened to the underside of the table to permit the spacing of the table from the seat, and which have inturned rear ends 16 lapping the standards and fastened thereto by means of the wing nut 17 engagiiig in one of the vertically spaced apertures 18 in the rear face of the standards 2. The "top 13 may include a hinged extension 19 constituting a drop leaf held in extended position by any suitable means as by the sliding bolts 20, or this extension may be disposed on top of the table and may be hooked thereto so as to extend from one edge thereof when it is desired to extend the area of the top. A work box 21 may be pivoted to an edge of the table and arranged so that the top thereof will turn about said edge and rest on the upper face of the table top.

Where it is desired to support the front portion of the person in his seated posture, a pair of spaced apart breast plates 22 are adjustably mounted on the table adjacent the recessed portion 14 and are designed to conform to and lit the front portion of the diaphragm below the breast-Q In operation, a person is positioned on the seat so that his weight is distributed uniformly over as large an area of the seat as possible and this seat is preferably designed so as to support the weight of the thighs as well as the weight of the body. The seat is adjustable relative to the foot rest so that this foot rest will support the weight of the lower portion of the legs. The members of the back 10 are then positioned to engage the loins of the user on opposite sides of the spinal column, but where it is more comfortable, or where the chair device is used as an invalids chair, and the weakness is at a higher position onthe invalids back, obviously these members may be raised to engage the diaphragm. The rest t is preferably of such a height as to support the perscns head and shoulders irrespective of the adjustment of the seat. With the person seated in the chair, the table portion may be drawn in position and locked to the standards 2 in any desirable position. \Vhere the breast plates are used they may be positioned so as to conform to and engage the front portion of the diaphragm.

By means of a device of this character, it is possibleto comfortably support the per son on the seat and to transfer the strains from the skeleton portion of the body direct to the device without placing these strains upon the lower portion of the spinal column.

A device of this character is particularly designed for use by stenographers, dressmakers and other workers who bend over their work for long periods of time and the table element may be designed to facilitate the particular work occupying the attention of the person using the device.

The table may be tilted so as to provide a writing or drawing surface and for this reason the device is particularly efficient for use by school children.

While I have shown and described, and hate pointed out in the annexed claims, certain novel features of my invention, it will be understood that various omissions, substitutions and changes in the form and details of the device illustrated and in its operation may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Having described my invention,I claim 1. A means for supporting a person in a sitting position, comprising a seat, a pair of back members carried by the seat adapted to engage the loins of the person, a shoulder rest, and breast supports adapted to fit against the diaphragm of the person to maintain the person in braced position between the back members and breast supports.

2. A sitting position, comprlsmg a seat having a back formed of two adjustable members and two independently supported rest supports adapted to fit against the diaphragm of the person to maintain the person in a braced position between said back and said rest supports, each of said rest supports being adjustable relatively to said seat and to each other.

, 3. In a work-seat, the combination with an adjustable seat, a stationary work support in front of the seat and a stationary shoulder rest above the seat, a pair of supporting members carried by the seat and adjustable vertically with respect thereto and adapted to engage the loins of the person, and a pair of vertically adjustable rest supports on said work-support adapted to fit against the diaphragm of the person to maintain the person in braced and supported position between said first mentioned members and said rest supports. Y r

This specification signed and witnessed this 26th day of March, 1914.

MARIE A. FERGUSON.

Witnesses:

M. J. Coornn, S. A. 'lnoam'oN.

Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. 0.

means for supporting a person in a 

